Analysis of horizontal-well performance by scaled physical modeling and numerical simulation

Book · Fri Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1988

OSTI ID:7273135

Ying, N H

Steam flooding of heavy oil formations can be economical. Horizontal wells located at the bottom of a reservoir of extensive length increase the area exposed to the steam. This may well slow the rapid steam flow and release more heat at the steam-oil interface. A considerable role may be played by gravity drainage and imbibition, which will improve the efficiency of steamflooding. Few laboratory model studies of steam injection with horizontal wells, to examine recovery from reservoirs with extremely high oil viscosity, have been conducted. A scaled physical model was developed to inspect the producing mechanism of horizontal wells and was useful in obtaining much quantitative information. The partial support of SBIR/DOE permitted the design and construction of a most desirable physically scaled model for the investigation of such a mechanism during the steamflood processes. A three-dimensional generalized numerical simulation model named All Purpose Simulation of Thermal Recovery Operations (ASTRO) was applied to the design and analysis of this steam project. This model was processed by the IBM-3090 computer at the Union Oil Science and Technology Division. The results were used to analyze production performance in steam injection for both horizontal and vertical wells. Considerable improvement in performance was shown using horizontal wells in reservoirs containing moderately viscous oil as well as in those containing extremely heavy oil. This research has suggested that such processes will extend the applicability of steam injection for the recovery of truly viscous crudes and bitumens.

• Research Organization: University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA (USA)
• OSTI ID: 7273135
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020300* -- Petroleum-- Drilling & Production
COMPUTER CALCULATIONS
DIRECTIONAL DRILLING
DRAINAGE
DRILLING
ENERGY SOURCES
ENHANCED RECOVERY
FLUID INJECTION
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
FUNCTIONAL MODELS
GRAVITATION
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
OIL WELLS
ORIENTATION
PERFORMANCE
PETROLEUM
RECOVERY
STEAM INJECTION
THERMAL RECOVERY
THREE-DIMENSIONAL CALCULATIONS
VISCOSITY
WELLS